Commonwealth Act
The CATSI Act sets registration, governance, membership and reporting rules for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations.
Plain-English explainers, not legal advice. Use the linked official source for section-level detail, and get advice for your situation.
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The CATSI Act is not just another company law page. It is about a specific legal structure built for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations.
For a founder or board, the question is whether that structure fits the organisation's purpose, membership, control, funding and reporting obligations. It may be exactly right for a community-controlled organisation. It may be unnecessary for a purely private trading business.
| If the organisation is | Check carefully |
|---|---|
| Community controlled | Membership rules, voting, eligibility, meetings and accountability to members. |
| Grant funded | Reporting, financial controls, director duties and funder conditions. |
| Trading commercially | Contracts, employment, tax, insurance, profit use and whether another structure is better. |
| Changing structure | Member approvals, regulator steps, assets, debts, contracts and grants. |
Key takeaways
Key points
No. It is a separate Commonwealth structure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations. It has its own registration, membership, governance and reporting framework.
It can be relevant for Indigenous community organisations, native-title-related bodies, service providers, grant-funded entities and Indigenous enterprises where membership and control requirements matter.
No. Some businesses may be better suited to an ordinary company, trust, partnership or other structure. The choice depends on ownership, funding, governance, tax, contracting and community-control goals.